At 8.8 p.m. on 6th July, 1969, the coastguard told the second coxswain that a yacht was firing red flares one mile south of Anvil point lighthouse.

At 8.20 the life-boat R.L.P. was launched in a near gale force north easterly wind with a choppy sea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boat came up with the catamaran Vaapiti two and half miles south of Anvil point.

The catamaran could make no headway against the strong ebb tide and near gale force winds. Her crew of two were taken aboard the life-boat and the catamaran was towed to Swanage. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.28..